A Monterey neighborhood is pushing back against proposals from Verizon to install cellular devices near their homes and schools. Verizon has 13 applications in front of the city to install small cellular facilities on the tops of utility poles in the Monterey Vista neighborhood. The stated intention is to improve service in the area, but many neighbors say they don’t want the devices, or need better service. “There are only schools and residences up here, and a commercial interest is proposing 25,000 watts of transmitting power,” said Mike Pekins with the Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association. Pekins is worried about the potential health impacts the cell devices could have, he and other neighbors fear the devices could emit cancer causing radiation. “I think that this neighborhood is not being protected, this is where my grandchildren will be,” he said. Pekins is not the only person who is fearful of the proposals. At a recent city meeting staff said about 80 people spoke during public comment pleading with the city to stop the installation of the devices. Signs are posted all over the neighborhood and people on Nextdoor.com are asking their neighbors to show up at the Nov. 14 Planning Commission meeting when the proposals will be evaluated. Opponents of Verizon’s proposal cite a study from the National Toxicology Program that links cellular modulations and frequencies to tumors. The study was only released in part in 2016. The full study is expected out in 2018. NTP a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did the study with rodents exposing young rats for nine hours a day over a two-year period and found low incidences of tumors in the brains and hearts of male rats, but not in female rats. “That's our kids who are growing up next to these cell towers, they'll be exposed for far more than two years,” said Monterey resident Nina Beety. The devices will run 24-hours a day and some will be next to schools. Todd Bennet with the city of Monterey’s Planning Department said its ability to regulate the installation of these devices is limited. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits local jurisdictions from taking into account possible health or safety impacts associated with these types of facilities. “When neighbors or residents are concerned about potential impacts, the city takes those concerns very seriously, but we are again limited in what we can consider when evaluating these types of projects,” he said. The FCC views cell phones and cellular service facilities as an important part of the country’s communications infrastructure, and federal laws limit what municipalities can to do stop the installation of towers and other devices. Bennett said there has been such an outpouring of concern over the devices that staff has asked the planning commission to review the proposals, but even if the 13 proposals are rejected the city may not be able to stop the installation indefinitely. Senate Bill 649 introduced this winter would block the ability of cities and counties to veto these cellular devices. The bill, introduced by Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego is sitting on the goveror’s desk and if signed in to law it would give telecommunications companies the right to install devices to almost all public utilities infrastructure. “It would in effect make these all available by right to any cellular devices within the city, city of Monterey's right of way,” Bennett said. SB 649 would also allow any applicant that had a proposal denied to re-apply, and Bennett said there would be little the city could object to going forward.

MONTEREY, Calif. —

A Monterey neighborhood is pushing back against proposals from Verizon to install cellular devices near their homes and schools.

Verizon has 13 applications in front of the city to install small cellular facilities on the tops of utility poles in the Monterey Vista neighborhood. The stated intention is to improve service in the area, but many neighbors say they don’t want the devices, or need better service.

“There are only schools and residences up here, and a commercial interest is proposing 25,000 watts of transmitting power,” said Mike Pekins with the Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association.

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Pekins is worried about the potential health impacts the cell devices could have, he and other neighbors fear the devices could emit cancer causing radiation.

“I think that this neighborhood is not being protected, this is where my grandchildren will be,” he said.

Pekins is not the only person who is fearful of the proposals. At a recent city meeting staff said about 80 people spoke during public comment pleading with the city to stop the installation of the devices.

Signs are posted all over the neighborhood and people on Nextdoor.com are asking their neighbors to show up at the Nov. 14 Planning Commission meeting when the proposals will be evaluated.

Opponents of Verizon’s proposal cite a study from the National Toxicology Program that links cellular modulations and frequencies to tumors. The study was only released in part in 2016. The full study is expected out in 2018.

NTP a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did the study with rodents exposing young rats for nine hours a day over a two-year period and found low incidences of tumors in the brains and hearts of male rats, but not in female rats.

“That's our kids who are growing up next to these cell towers, they'll be exposed for far more than two years,” said Monterey resident Nina Beety.

The devices will run 24-hours a day and some will be next to schools.

Todd Bennet with the city of Monterey’s Planning Department said its ability to regulate the installation of these devices is limited. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits local jurisdictions from taking into account possible health or safety impacts associated with these types of facilities.

“When neighbors or residents are concerned about potential impacts, the city takes those concerns very seriously, but we are again limited in what we can consider when evaluating these types of projects,” he said.

The FCC views cell phones and cellular service facilities as an important part of the country’s communications infrastructure, and federal laws limit what municipalities can to do stop the installation of towers and other devices.

Bennett said there has been such an outpouring of concern over the devices that staff has asked the planning commission to review the proposals, but even if the 13 proposals are rejected the city may not be able to stop the installation indefinitely.

Senate Bill 649 introduced this winter would block the ability of cities and counties to veto these cellular devices. The bill, introduced by Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego is sitting on the goveror’s desk and if signed in to law it would give telecommunications companies the right to install devices to almost all public utilities infrastructure.

“It would in effect make these all available by right to any cellular devices within the city, city of Monterey's right of way,” Bennett said.

SB 649 would also allow any applicant that had a proposal denied to re-apply, and Bennett said there would be little the city could object to going forward.